Memories and methods for sharing a signal node for the receipt and provision of non-data signals
AssigneeMircon Technology, Inc.
InventorBrian Huber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Memories and methods for providing and receiving non-data signals at a signal node are disclosed. One such memory includes first and second signal nodes, and first and second signal buffer. The first signal buffer is configured to be operative responsive to a first data strobe signal and further configured to be operative responsive to a non-data signal. The second signal buffer is configured to be operative responsive to a second data strobe signal. An example first data strobe signal is a read data strobe signal provided by the memory. In another example, the first data strobe signal is a write data strobe signal received by the memory. Examples of non-data signals include a data mask signal, data valid signal, error correction signal, as well as other signals.
Claims19
A memory, comprising:
- a first signal node;
- a second signal node;
- a first signal buffer coupled to the first signal node and configured to be operative responsive to a first read data strobe signal associated with read data provided by the memory and further configured to be operative responsive to a first non-data signal, wherein the first signal buffer is configured to provide the first read data strobe signal to the first signal node when the first non-data signal is not received by the first signal buffer from the first signal node, and wherein the first signal buffer is configured to receive the first non-data signal from the first signal node when the first read data strobe signal is not provided by the first signal buffer to the first signal node;
- and
- a second signal buffer coupled to the second signal node and configured to be operative responsive to a second read data strobe signal associated with the read data provided by the memory and further configured to be operative resonsive to a second non-data signal, the second non-data signal not a mask signal, wherein the second signal buffer is configured to provide second data strobe signal to the second signal node when the second non-data signal is not received by the second signal buffer from the second signal node, and wherein the second signal buffer is configured to receive the second non-data signal from the second signal node when the second read data strobe signal is not provided by the second signal buffer to the second signal node.
A memory, comprising:
- a signal node;
- an input/output buffer coupled to the signal node, the input/output buffer configured to receive a data mask signal from the signal node and provide an internal data mask signal responsive to the same and further configured to receive an internal output data valid signal and provide the same to the signal node responsive thereto and during a time other than during receipt of the data mask signal.
A memory, comprising:
- a first signal node;
- a first input/output signal buffer coupled to the first signal node and configured to buffer a write data strobe signal provided to the first signal node and further configured to buffer a first non-data signal and provide, the same to the first signal node, the write data strobe signal associated with write data received by the memory;
- a second signal node;
- and
- a second input/output signal buffer coupled to the second signal node and configured to buffer an internal read data strobe signal and provide the same to the second signal node, the read data strobe associated with read data provided by the memory, the input/output signal buffer further configured to buffer a second non-data signal received by the memory at the second signal node.
A memory comprising:
- a first signal node;
- a write data strobe buffer coupled to the first signal node and configured to buffer a first write data strobe signal applied to the first signal node, the first write data strobe signal associated with write data rovided to the memgory;
- a second signal node;
- a first input/output signal buffer coupled to the second signal node and configured to buffer a second write data strobe signal applied to the second signal node, the second write data strobe signal associated with the write data provided to the memory, the first input/output signal buffer further configured to buffer an internal non-data signal and provide the same to the second signal node;
- and
- third signal node:
- and
- a second input/output signal buffer coupled to the third signal node and configured to buffer an internal read data strobe signal and provide the same to the third node, the second input/output signal buffer further configured to buffer an external non-data signal receive by the memory at the third signal node.
A method for providing a read data strobe signal from a memory and receiving at the memory a write data strobe signal, comprising:
- providing the read data strobe signal from a first signal node during the output of read data;
- receiving the write data strobe signal at a second signal node during receipt of write data;
- and
- providing a non-data signal from the second signal node at a time other than during receipt of write data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.